Long-serving Hastings Hotel employee appointed new group chairman

Mr Carson was a close friend and confidant of the late Sir William Hastings (pictured)

THE longest-serving employee of the north's largest independent hotel group has been appointed its new chairman.

Edward Carson (75), who has served as financial director at Hastings Hotels for 47 years, will now step into the role, held by the late Sir William Hastings since the group's inception in 1966.

Mr Carson was a close friend and confidant of the well-known hotelier, who died at the age of 89 in December 2017. He joined the company in 1972 and has been a mainstay ever since.

As the result of Mr Carson's succession to chairman the search is now onto find a new financial director.

Belfast-headquartered firm 4c Executive has been tasked with filling the role at the group, whose portfolio includes seven Northern Ireland venues totalling over 1,000 rooms.

Hastings Hotels managing director, Dr Howard Hastings said the new financial director will have big shoes to fill.

“Working closely with my father, Edward helped steer Hastings Hotels through some of the most tumultuous years in Northern Ireland's history, which saw the Slieve Donard Hotel and a number of venues in the group bombed on several occasions," he said.

“Now, at over 1,000 bedrooms across Northern Ireland, we're proud to be recognised and respected as a leading hotel group which is built on the warmth of its welcome and personal touch, combined with exacting international standards.

“None of this would have been possible without Edward's leadership and stewardship. We are deeply indebted to him, both as a family and as a business, for his steadfast loyalty and dedication to Hastings Hotels over the past 47 years. I am confident we will continue to benefit from his excellent wisdom and guidance in the coming years as he takes on the role of chairperson," Dr Hastings added.

Gordan Carson, managing director of 4c Executive described the financial director position as an "exceptionally important role" at one of the north's most successful and well-known businesses

“This is an extremely exciting opportunity for a high-calibre individual to help steer Hastings Hotels along its journey of continued investment and expansion in the coming years," he said.

For more information about the financial director role at Hastings Hotels, visit www.4cexecutive.com, email carsong@4cexcutive.com or call 028 9043 4343.

The Hastings Hotel Group operates the Grand Central, Europa, Stormont and Culloden hotels in Belfast, as well as Derry's Everglades, Larne's Ballygally Castle and Newcastle's Slieve Donard. The group also owns a 50 per cent stake in Dublin's Merrion Hotel.

In its latest accounts the group, which employs over 1,100 people, reported turnover just shy of £40 million, an increase of 7.8 per cent over the year.

Pre-tax profits also increased from £4.9m to £5.2m in the year ending October 31, 2017.